Deadline for Submissions: Big Read Contest for High School Students

 Garfield County Libraries is hosting the Big Read featuring John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” in February 2013. The Big Read, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, is designed to promote reading and discussion of great books. Garfield County Libraries’ Big Read title coincides with the release of Ken Burn’s new documentary entitled, “The Dust Bowl,” set to air on PBS in November. To view a clip of this documentary, visit www.pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl/.

To kick-start The Big Read, Garfield County Libraries will send 40 Garfield County high school students to a Youth Summit in Denver on October 17, all expenses paid. Students will discuss the history of the Dust Bowl and its aftermath with renowned documentary producer, Ken Burns, through a live webinar. Students will also have the opportunity to meet peers from around the nation, interact with scholars, and engage with public historians. This Summit is one of 10 being held throughout the nation and is hosted by the Smithsonian Affiliates and The Colorado History Center. Students will have a chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime trip by submitting entries in the form of essays, poetry, posters, exhibits or art pieces that reflect on themes found in “The Grapes of Wrath”. Applicants must submit their entries to their local library by Monday, October 1. For more information, go online at www.gcpld.org, or stop by your local library for complete contest guidelines. Seven winners will be selected from each community in Garfield County and will be notified by October 8.

For more information, contact Kelsy at kbeen@gcpld.org or 970-625-4270.